New marine species discovered in Atlantic Ocean canyons

Researchers have identified 57 new marine species and five new genera within the underwater canyons of the South Atlantic Ocean. The findings focus on the Mar del Plata Canyon off the coast of Argentina, a region noted for its high biological dynamism.

The discoveries were finalized during an international workshop held at Maimonides University in Buenos Aires, led by the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census initiative in collaboration with the Schmidt Ocean Institute. Taxonomists analyzed biological samples collected during a 2025 expedition using the research vessel Falkor (too) and the remotely operated vehicle SuBastian.

The identified organisms include 20 species of copepods, 22 echinoderms (such as sea cucumbers and sea lilies), 14 cnidarians (including corals and sea pens), and one species of scaphopod mollusk. Notable finds include the ‘Loki sea cucumber’ (Peniagone sp.), characterized by horn-like protrusions, and a bright orange starfish. The data has been integrated into the Ocean Census NOVA, an open-access platform for newly discovered marine species.